Minor A Football Championship Semi-Final
St Brigids 2 – 04 v 3 – 29 Roger Casements
A very large crowd assembled at Pairc Musgrave in anticipation of watching a potential cliffhanger between two clubs who have between them, split most of the honours since their paths first crossed at under twelve. Casements won their share of honours but the ones that got away were going to their Musgrave peers, who will point to Feile and OG sport honours as testimony to the talent at their disposal and their ability to produce the goods.
But on this occasion, when it mattered most it was the Bannside lads from Portglenone who came up trumps – producing an emphatic performance that contained everything that was good about how Gaelic Football should be played.
For the first ten minutes this contest looked like living up to its billing. Odhran Doherty opened the scoring with a pointed free and a minute later Tom Convery pounced quickly on a loose ball in the St Brigid’s goalmouth to produce an early green flag. The scoreboard hadn’t settled though before big Joe Logan blasted home at the other end after a superb full pitch movement from the hosts.
Barra Carlisle raised a loud cheer from the large home support when he landed from distance for two points. Eoin Mc Erlean levelled that a minute later, and at five points each, this game had all the hallmarks of a classic.
Signalling the danger Casements players began to step up their game, and sticking to a well worn script began to establish their blueprint on the game. Led from the front by the mercurial high fielding Odhran Doherty, Casements began to settle and establish their stranglehold of the game. Scoring three on the trot, his midfield companion Dara Campbell began to show the class that earned him a coveted college AllStar, knocking over a number of superb long range efforts off his trusty left boot.
The turning point for St Brigids came half way through the opening half. Johnny Higgins weaved his way past a number of Casements defenders and had only one thing on his mind. A goal was needed and indeed looked certain but referee Paddy Tumelty deemed the classy youngster had taken a step too many and awarded a free. As close a call as it may have been, this was as close as it got for the hosts and in a matter of minutes the visitors had established a large lead that they never looked like surrendering.
Winning the majority of the individual contests throughout the pitch, James McVeigh, Conor Burns and Conor McKeever got in on the finishing end of some superb spells of football and with Casements on the front foot it took a fisted goal by Big Liam Carson in the dying embers of the first half did add some respectability to the scoreboard.
Many in the large attendance may have been thinking the visitors had one foot in this year’s final but it was obvious that Casements management did not share that theory. It was an even hungrier side that took the field for the second half, showing little or no respite the visitors kicked on to a level that on the day St Brigids simply could not match.
Neither Conor Mc Keever nor Conor Burns have played much football this year, but both showed why they are so highly regarded, pulling the strings in a forward line that was moving at optimum level. Heads up football, often one touch and without any sign of individualism was the order of the day – a rich testimony to a coaching project started a decade ago by an ambitious group, instigated by deceased Paul McKeever along with a number of forward thinking club stalwarts who have been relentless in their pursuit of setting a higher standard.
The hosts will be content to know that they will deliver a handful of very promising recruits from this shoal into the senior ranks in the near future. Carlisle, Higgins, and Joe Logan are three that immediately spring to mind, and there is no doubt many of these players paths will cross again in the coming years.
The winners on this occasion were served by a large number of players who went on to win their personal contests, thereby forming the springboard for a deserving success. A champagne performance from the majestic Odhran Doherty led the way, raising three orange and six white flags in the process. The supporting cast set a very high standard, with Tom Duffins top drawer exhibition display of man to man marking St Brigids marquee Joe Logan another major talking point.
There were too many exceptional performances to mention from the winners, on a day where it all clicked.
Casements have massive motivation to go back to back – the absence of resolute full back Christy McDonnell adding further to the mix when St Pauls once again present a formidable opponent as a repeat of last years final.
Scorers;
St Brigids – Joe Logan – 1 – 00, Liam Carson 1 – 00, Barra Carlisle 0 – 04.
Casements – Odhran Doherty 0 – 12, Dara Campbell, 1 – 02, Tom Convery 1 – 00, Tom Duffin 1 – 00, Conor McKeever 0 – 03, Conor Burns 0 – 02, Eoin McErlean 0 – 02, James Magee 0 -02, Phelim McCluskey 0 – 02, Thomas Douhart 0 – 02,
The Casement’s will now meet St. Paul’s, who defeated Moneyglass in the other semi-final.
St. Ergnat’s 1-10 St. Paul’s 0-18
In the U18B semi-finals Aldergrove continued the away team success when they defeated Tir na nOg
Tir na nOg 1-7 Aldergrove1-13
The other semi-final between Glenavy and Sarsfields is fixed for this week.
In the U18C Championship semi-finals there were wins for Naomh Comhghall and Ardoyne
Ardoyne 6-10 Lamh Dhearg 2-18
Naomh Eanna 0-10 Naomh Comhghall 1-9
